88 THE BOOK OF THE OPEN AIR 



with the roe. Say he puts a dog on possible condition. Then it is often 



the track to vex the echoes. shot, along with the red deer. It is 



The roe is not afraid. He leads a pronounced bad venison, as though it 

 merry dance through the shades. A were the creature's, and not the 

 glance at the open country and he shooter's fault. The horns begin to 

 forms his plans, in which is a trace of sprout ; they rise over a mere bag of 

 humour, or, at least, of elfish mis- bones. The head is kept as a trophy 

 chief. From tuft to tuft of the marsh, of a shot which ought not to have 

 he springs, while the hound flounders been fired. A shot out of season is 

 through the black water, and over the unsportsmanlike, and is not fired at 

 sinking bottom. Round a group of any other wild creature. The roe- 

 mounds, he will move, at a minuet buck's head is no adornment for the 

 pace. All this interest, and variety, hall. 



half amusing, and wholly charming September witnesses the transition 



are in the legitimate pursuit of the roe. from summer red to winter mouse 



This infinite tact is not appreciated, colour ; by November the change is 



No play is given to the ready wit ; nor complete. In December the horns are 



space for the elfish touches. The shed. The weeks which follow are 



superior knowledge of woodcraft, more the season. The roe should be shot 



perfect than that of otter in stream- only when thus mouse coloured, 



craft ; the well-nigh flawless sym- After Christmas, the venison is as 



pathy with the background are made good as venison could be, better than 



an excuse for methods which deprive that of the red deer in September. 



him of his advantage. The shades are The want of horns is the weakness of 



so near, the passage across the glade so winter shooting. A trophy carries the 



swift, and the vision itself so puzzling, eye beyond the slaughter. 



But are not these the conditions under The roe is perhaps our only truly 



which the creature lives, and therefore wild deer. If not exactly a migrant, 



the true environment of sport. The it is at liberty to shift about, as much, 



chase is wanting in good taste, in and as far as it will. It is found wher- 



chivalry, and therefore in gladness. ever is cover. 



In spring, the roe puts off its winter If not so graceful, the red deer is 



mouse colour. While it wears the sum- the statelier. It has the advantage 



mer and autumn red, it is in the worst in height and weight. It stands about 



